Slim teardrop silhouettes carved from polished black horn and capped in warm brass, finished as a clean threader that slips through the lobe and falls long. Made by Kenyan artisans working horn and metal in a tradition tied to East African adornment.
- Material: Horn and brass
- Size: About 2.75" x 0.3125"
- Details: Tapered horn drops with brass caps; long threader wire
- Origin / Craft: Hand-shaped in Kenya using traditional horn-carving and brass metalwork
Each drop is hand-turned, so the grain and finish of the black horn shift subtly from one earring to the next. The Antique Brass caps are hammered smooth and meet the horn in a clean seam, balancing weight against the slender pull-through wire for an elongated, sculptural line.
Care: Wipe horn and brass with a soft dry cloth; keep away from water and lotions.
design: A slim, elongated teardrop in polished black horn, capped in warm brass and finished as a long threader that pulls through the lobe for a clean, sculptural drop.
size: About 2.75" long x 0.3125" wide.
material: Horn and brass
features: Hand-turned horn drop, hammered Antique Brass cap, long pull-through threader wire, tapered sculptural silhouette
care: Wipe horn and brass with a soft dry cloth, and keep the earrings away from water and lotions.
disclaimer: Each drop is hand-turned from natural horn, so grain and finish shift subtly from one earring to the next.
The Story
These earrings are built around a simple, longstanding pairing in East African metalwork and horn-carving: a dense natural material set against a hammered brass cap. Horn takes a high polish and holds a fine, tapered shape, while brass is soft enough to hand-hammer into a smooth, snug collar over it. The combination is practical as much as decorative, since the metal cap protects the narrow end of the horn where it meets the wire.
The elongated drop shape and pull-through wire reflect a broader East African adornment tradition of earrings meant to move with the wearer, catching light along the length of the piece rather than sitting flat. It's a form built for line and drop rather than surface decoration.
Because the piece relies on cut and polish rather than surface pattern, its character comes from material contrast, black horn against warm brass, and from the hand-shaping of each drop.
Kenyan artisans shape each horn drop by hand, cutting and turning the raw horn down to a slim, tapered teardrop before polishing it to a glassy finish. The Antique Brass cap is hammered smooth separately and fitted over the narrow end of the horn in a clean seam, then paired with a hand-formed threader wire that balances the weight of the drop for an even hang. Because the horn is worked and finished individually, no two drops come out quite the same.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: Kenya
- Craft Tradition: Horn-carving and brass metalwork
- Ideal For: Anyone who wants a long, graphic earring that pairs a natural material with hand-worked metal
- Wear It With: Wear with an updo or pulled-back hair so the length and the black-and-brass contrast can show.
- Purpose: Everyday wear, evening wear, gifting
- Metal: Brass
Questions & Answers
What is the horn material, and is it natural?
The drops are carved from natural black horn, hand-turned and polished, so slight variation in grain and sheen between earrings is expected and not a flaw.
How do threader earrings go in?
The long wire slips through the piercing and hangs freely rather than closing with a clasp or post back, so the horn drop settles at the length of the wire.
How should I clean and store them?
Wipe both the horn and the brass with a soft, dry cloth after wear, and keep them away from water, lotion, and perfume, which can dull the horn's polish and the brass finish.
Will the brass tarnish over time?
Antique Brass will naturally deepen and pick up a soft patina with wear; a dry cloth wipe keeps the surface even without stripping that character.
Are the two earrings identical?
They're a matched pair in shape and size, but because each horn drop is individually hand-turned, you may notice small, natural differences in grain between the two.
